GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

7.11 p.m.

Mr Lim Kim San: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Currently the Government Contracts Ordinance, 1949, of Malaysia applies to Singapore. The purpose of the Bill is to repeal the Malaysian Ordinance and substitute it with the Government Contracts Act, 1966.

The Bill seeks to enact with suitable amendments the provisions of the Government Contracts Ordinance, 1949, of Malaysia. Under this Ordinance, any Minister may authorise a public officer to sign a contract. The new Bill before the House provides that authorisation of officers will be only by the Minister for Finance. As contracts invariably involve financial matters, it is desirable that the authority be from the Minister for Finance. In respect of contracts signed outside Singapore, this authority is also to be vested in the Minister for Finance.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. -[Mr Lim Kim San]

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.